Method for operating an automated sample workcell

ABSTRACT

A method of operating the automated sample workcell for processing one or more biological samples is presented. The method comprises receiving one or more biological samples. Each biological sample is contained in a sample tube. Each sample tube is a tube type. If a test order was received for at least one of the biological samples, the test order being indicative of one or more first processing steps, the workcell can automatically execute the one or more first processing steps. If the test order was not received, one or more second processing steps can be determined based on the tube type of the sample tube that contains the at least one biological sample and the one or more second processing steps can then be executed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of EP 11164310.2, filed Apr. 29,2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to an automated sample workcelland a method for operating an automated sample workcell and, inparticular, to an automated sample workcell which is operable to processbiological samples and a method for operating an automated sampleworkcell.

In analytical laboratories, in particular clinical laboratories, amultitude of analyses on biological samples are executed in order todetermine the physiological state of a patient. Current pre-analyticalspecimen processors on the market are able to prepare a plurality ofbiological samples such as blood, urine, cerebral-spinal fluid, saliva,etc. Biological fluid samples are typically contained in open or cappedsample tubes. Before a chemical or biological analysis can be performedon a biological sample, a plurality of different pre-analyticalprocessing steps may have to be executed on a sample of a patient. Suchprocessing steps may comprise centrifugation, capping, decapping,recapping and/or aliquotation steps. The processing steps may alsocomprise adding chemicals or buffers to a sample, concentrating asample, incubating a sample, and the like. A growing number of those‘pre-analytical’ steps and procedures are executed automatically byautomated pre-analytical sample workcells, also known as ‘automatedpre-analytical systems’. The kind of analytical test to be executed on abiological sample is typically specified in a test order.

One typical problem is with the physical transport and processing of asample may not always be synchronized with the assignment of aparticular analytical test to the biological sample. For example, ablood sample may be drawn from a patient and collected in a sample tubewhich is then transported manually, or automatically, to an automatedsample workcell at a moment in time when it may not clear which kind ofbiological and/or chemical analysis, also referred to as ‘analyticaltest,’ shall be executed on that sample. A physician may have to conductadditional examinations of the patient before he/she can decide whichkind of analytical test should be executed on that blood sample of thepatient. While the physician conducts the additional examinations, theblood sample of the patient may have already arrive at the automatedsample workcell, leaving the automated sample workcell with the questionwhat to do with the sample. According to some laboratory settings, aplurality of samples is received together with a pile of paper-basedtest orders. In those scenarios, the assignment of electronic testorders to samples may be delayed as the data on the paper-based testorders needs to be entered manually into the lab software before anelectronic test order can be requested for a particular sample.

Most state-of-the-art automated sample workcells do not prepare abiological sample for a particular analysis as long as the test orderfor the sample has not received. Valuable time is lost, as the automatedworkcell is not able to process the biological sample at all or ismerely able to carry samples not having assigned a test order to abuffering station.

Some state-of-the-art automated sample workcells do not request a testorder but rather determine the type of the sample tubes of a biologicalsample and process the sample exclusively based on its tube type. Forexample, in one known system, the automated sample workcell determinesthe sample container type by image analysis for distributing thecontainers to different areas or racks. A disadvantage of this approachis that information on the tube type alone is often not sufficient todetermine all processing steps necessary to prepare a particularbiological sample for a particular analytical test. In addition, thesystems are inflexible, because in a lab there may exist much moreprocessing workflows and corresponding test orders than tube types.

Generally, state-of-the-art automated sample workcells are eithercompletely test order based (and therefore completely dependent on thereceipt of a test order) or are solely based on the determination of thetube type. In the latter case, the workcells are inflexible and oftennot able to sufficiently pre-process a biological sample for aparticular analytical test.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved automated sample workcellwhich is operable to process one or more biological samples even in caseno test order was received for the samples, thereby avoiding delays andspeeding up sample processing

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, an automated sample workcelland method of operating the automated sample workcell for processing oneor more biological samples are disclosed. The automated sample workcellcomprises a sample input station for receiving the at least onebiological sample. Each biological sample is contained in a sample tube.Each sample tube is of a tube type. The automated sample workcellfurther comprises an instrument manager module for receiving a testorder for the at least one received biological sample and a tube typedetector for automatically determining the tube type of each of the atleast one biological sample. If the test order was received, wherein thetest order is indicative of one or more first processing steps, theautomated sample workcell automatically executes the one or more firstprocessing steps on the at least one biological sample. If the testorder was not received, the automated sample workcell automaticallydetermines one or more second processing steps based on the tube type ofthe sample tube that contains the at least one biological sample andexecutes the one or more second processing steps on the at least onebiological sample.

Accordingly, it is a feature of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure to provide an improved automated sample workcell which isoperable to process one or more biological samples even in case no testorder was received for the samples, thereby avoiding delays and speedingup sample processing. Other features of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure will be apparent in light of the description of thedisclosure embodied herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of specific embodiments of thepresent disclosure can be best understood when read in conjunction withthe following drawings, where like structure is indicated with likereference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an automated sample workcellaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method for operating the automatedsample workcell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates the processing of three different types of samplesaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a pre-analytical sample workcell according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates the pre-analytical sample workcell in connection withtwo analytical systems and a post-analytical sample workcell accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 a illustrates the selection of computer implemented instructionsspecifying one or more first processing steps based on a received testorder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 b illustrates the selection of computer implemented instructionsspecifying one or more second processing steps based on the tube typeaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in whichare shown by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation, specificembodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical,mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the present disclosure.

The expression ‘automated sample workcell’ as used herein can encompassany laboratory workcell comprising one or more lab-devices or‘workcell-units’ which can automatically execute one or more processingsteps on one or more biological samples. The expression ‘processingsteps’ thereby can refer to physically executed processing steps such ascentrifugation, aliquotation and the like. An ‘automated sampleworkcell’ can cover pre-analytical sample workcells, post-analyticalsample workcells and also analytical workcells. In particular, anautomated sample workcell can cover pre-analytical sample workcells. Thelab-devices of an automated sample workcell can form a functional unit,i.e., they are controlled collectively for executing a sequence ofprocessing steps on a sample. The lab-devices may, but do notnecessarily have to, form a physical unit. Accordingly, the lab-devicesof a work cell may form one monolithic block or may be a set ofphysically separated lab-devices which are connected by a transport unit(e.g. a conveyor).

A ‘pre-analytical sample workcell’ can comprise one or more lab-devicesfor executing one or more pre-analytical processing steps on one or morebiological samples, thereby preparing the samples for one or moresucceeding analytical tests. A pre-analytical processing step can be,for example, a centrifugation step, a capping-, decapping- or recappingstep, an aliquotation step, a step of adding buffers to a sample and thelike. The expression ‘analytical system’ as used herein can encompassany monolithic or multi-modular laboratory device comprising one or morelab-devices or operative units which are operable to execute ananalytical test on one or more biological samples. The expression‘post-analytical sample workcell’ as used herein can encompass anyautomated sample workcell being operable to automatically process and/orstore one or more biological samples. Post-analytical processing stepsmay comprise a recapping step, a step for unloading a sample from ananalytical system or a step for transporting the sample to a storageunit or to a unit for collecting biological waste.

The workcells may be connected by a transport unit (conveyor and/orrobotic arm). Alternatively, samples can be transported from oneworkcell to the other manually or workcells are directly connected toeach other.

The term ‘biological sample’ can encompass any kind of tissue or bodyfluid having been derived from a human or any other organism. Inparticular, a biological sample can be a whole blood-, serum-, plasma-,urine-, cerebral-spinal fluid-, or saliva-sample or any derivativesthereof.

An analyte can be a component of a sample to be analyzed, e.g. moleculesof various sizes, ions, proteins, metabolites and the like. Informationgathered on an analyte may be used to evaluate the impact of theadministration of drugs on the organism or on particular tissues or tomake a diagnosis. The determination of analytes and their concentrationswithin a biological sample is herein also referred to as ‘clinicalchemistry’. The characterization of the cellular components of bloodsamples is called ‘clinical hematology’. Laboratory analyses forevaluating an individual's clotting mechanism are referred to as‘coagulation analyses’.

An Analysis or ‘analytical test’ can be a laboratory procedurecharacterizing a parameter of a biological sample, e.g. its opacity,color, or density or the presence or concentration of an analyte of thesample. Routine analyses are done on plasma or serum samples instead onwhole blood samples because the cellular components of the bloodinterfere with some analytical tests. In addition, serum and plasma canbe frozen or cooled and can therefore be stored for several days orweeks for subsequent analysis. Therefore, whole blood samples arecommonly centrifuged in pre-analytical sample workcells in order toobtain plasma or serum samples before the samples are stored oranalyzed.

A ‘test order’ as used herein can encompass any data object beingindicative of one or more analytical tests to be executed on aparticular biological sample. For example, a test order may be a file oran entry in a relational database. A test order can indicate ananalytical test if, for example, the test order comprises or is storedin association with an identifier of an analytical test to be executedon a particular sample.

The term ‘sample tube’ can refer to any individual container fortransporting, storing and/or processing a biological sample. Inparticular, the term without limitation can refer to a piece oflaboratory glass- or plastic-ware optionally comprising a cap on itsupper end and usually having a rounded U-shaped bottom. Sample tubes,e.g. sample tubes used to collect blood, often comprise additionalsubstances such as clot activators or anticoagulant substances whichhave an impact on the processing of the sample. As a consequence,different tube types typically can be adapted for pre-analytical andanalytical requirements of a particular analysis, e.g. a clinicalchemistry analysis, a hematological analysis or a coagulation analysis.A mix up of sample tube types can make (blood) samples unusable foranalysis. To prevent errors in the collection and handling of samples,the sample caps of many tube manufacturers are encoded according to afixed and uniform color scheme. Some sample tubes types in addition oralternatively are characterized by particular tube dimensions, capdimensions, and/or tube color. A dimension of a tube comprises e.g. itsheight, its size and/or further characteristic shape properties.

The expression ‘tube type’ can refer to a category of sample tubes whichcan be characterized by at least one shared property, whereby the sharedproperty can be automatically detected by a lab-device and can thus beused to discriminate a set of sample tubes of a first tube type fromanother. Some examples for typical tube types currently in use are givenin Table 1. Table 1 lists a set of sample tube types I-VII. Some tubetypes are designed for carrying biological samples which can be used fora plurality of different analytical tests. An example for such a tubetype is a serum tube. However, a tube type may also be particular forone single analytical test.

Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood lacking the blood cells.Blood plasma is prepared by spinning whole blood samples containinganti-coagulant substances in a centrifuge until the blood plasma isseparated from the blood cells at the bottom of the tube. A plasmasample is a blood sample from which plasma is to be prepared. Serumsamples are commonly used for a clinical chemistry or immunologyanalysis. Blood serum is blood plasma without fibrinogen or the otherclotting factors. Blood serum is commonly used for a broad variety ofanalyses such as analyses for the detection of antibodies, for clinicalchemistry analyses, for blood typing, or for DNA analytics in a forensiclaboratory. Correspondingly, a serum sample is a blood sample from whichserum is to be prepared prior to executing one of the analyses. Acoagulation sample tube is a sample tube for collecting blood to be usedin a coagulation test.

A ‘STAT sample’ is a biological sample which needs to be processed andanalyzed very urgently as the analysis result may be of life-crucialimportance for a patient.

The expressions ‘sorting’ and ‘grouping’ will in the following be usedsynonymously in order to refer to the grouping of biological samplesbased on features shared by all samples of a particular group forprocessing all samples of a group in the same manner at least during asubsequent processing step.

According to embodiments, the evaluation if the test order was receivedcan be executed upon receipt of the one or more samples. The receipt ofthe one or more samples can, for example, initiate the execution of afirst request for a test order of the sample. These features can beadvantageous because they can allow the execution of at least someprocessing steps on the at least one biological sample even if no testorder was received. As a consequence, delays can be avoided and thesample processing workflow can be executed by the workcell moreefficiently.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sampleworkcell 102 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Theautomated sample workcell 102 can comprise a sample input station 108,at least one centrifuge 116, 117, a transport unit 118 in the form of asample conveyor for automatically transporting biological samples125-130 from the sample input station 108 to one of the centrifuges 116,117 or any of the other sample processing units 119-121 such as, forexample the aliquotation station 119 or the decapping/recapping station121. The transport unit may also transport the biological samples to thesample buffering station 120 or unload the biological samples from thebuffering station. According to FIG. 1, the transport unit can forwardthe at least one received biological sample, after having executed oneor more pre-analytical processing steps on the sample, to one or moreanalytical systems 134, 131, and also to a post-analytical sampleworkcell 132.

Each sample can be labeled with a label being particular for the sampleor for a particular patient from which the sample was derived. Inaddition, a sample may have attached a tube type label for identifyingthe tube type. Such a tube type label can be used instead of a compleximage recognition unit for determining the type of a tube. According tothis embodiments, the tube type is not determined by evaluating itscolor or dimensions but rather by reading the tube type ID from the tubetype label. The tube type can be detected by tube type detector 110which can be, for example, a camera in connection with an image analysisdevice that can determine the tube type by analyzing for example thecolor and/or shape of the tube cap or the tube. Tube type detector 110may likewise be an RFID tag reader, a 2D or 3D code reader.

The workcell 102 depicted in FIG. 1 can further comprise a computerreadable storage medium 115 having stored therein computer interpretableinstructions 112-114 which can be selected based on a received testorder and/or based on the tube type 122-124 of the sample tubes. The setof selected computer implemented instructions can respectively specifythe one or more first or second processing steps.

The instrument manager (IM) module 111 is a software-, hardware- orfirmware-module which can be, depending on the embodiment, integral partof the sample workcell or of a LIS 101 or of a laboratory middlewarebeing connected to the automated sample workcell 102 via a network 103.The IM module can evaluate a received test order and a detected tubetype in order to determine the first or second processing steps to beexecuted on the at least one biological sample. The IM module canfurther coordinate and control the one or more lab-devices 116-121,including the transport unit, which can execute the one or more first orsecond processing steps on the biological sample. According to FIG. 1,the sample tube types 122-124 can be indicated by a particular hachureof the sample caps.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method for operating an automated sampleworkcell 102. In a first step, the sample input station 108 of theautomated sample workcell can receive one or more biological samples125-130. The sample tubes loaded into the sample workcell may becontained in sample tubes of different types. The samples may be loadedinto the sample input station individually or rackwise. Upon havingreceived the at least one biological sample, the automated sampleworkcell can try 202 to receive a test order for the at least onebiological sample. This step may comprise submitting a first request bythe IM module to LIS or middleware components. Submitting the firstrequest may also be based on executing a read operation on a datastorage medium 107 to which test orders are stored as soon as they havebeen specified and assigned to a particular biological sample.

In decision step 203, the IM module can determine if the requested testorder was received. If the requested test order was received for the atleast one biological sample in response to the first request, the sampleworkcell in step 204 can automatically execute one or more firstprocessing steps on the at least one biological sample. The one or morefirst processing steps can be determined by evaluating the received testorder and determining the one or more first processing steps which canbe necessary to prepare the biological sample for an analytical testrequested in the test order for the sample.

If a test order was not received, one or more second processing stepscan be determined in step 205 based on the tube type of the sample tubewhich contains the at least one biological sample. In one embodiment,the tube type can be determined by the tube type detector 110automatically whenever a sample is loaded into the sample workcell. Inanother embodiment, the tube type can be determined by the detector 110only in case it was determined in step 203 that no test order wasreceived in response to the first request.

After having determined the one or more second processing steps, thesecond processing steps can be executed on the at least one biologicalsample automatically by one or more lab-devices/units of the automatedsample workcell.

FIG. 3 depicts the grouping of samples into three different samplegroups. The grouping can be test order based if a test order wasreceived for the samples respectively. The grouping can be tube-typebased if a test order was not received. In processing step 302, aplurality of received biological samples can be grouped and the groupscan be forwarded by transport unit 118 to different lab-devices of thework cell.

For instance, all biological samples contained within a serum/urinesample tube can be processed by the following second processing steps:centrifugation 306 in centrifuge 116 for obtaining serum from wholeblood; decapping 307 in the decapping/recapping station 121;aliquotation 308 in aliquotation station 119, and a second sorting step309 for grouping the one or more samples based on the analytical test312-318 to be performed on that sample and for automaticallytransporting all samples to the corresponding analytical system 131.Processing steps 308 and 309 are depicted with dotted borders as theprocessing steps can only be executed if a test order was received, butnot if only the tube type of a sample is known. Steps 306 and 307,however, can be executed based on the sample tube even if a test orderwas not received.

Correspondingly, the steps 310 and 311 can also be executed on wholeblood samples in plasma tubes even if no test order was received for thesamples. The plasma samples 304 can be decapped in step 310 indecapping/recapping station 121 and can be centrifuged 311 in centrifuge117 for obtaining plasma from the whole blood. In a further step,provided a test order was received in response to a first or a secondrequest, the test order requesting for a coagulation test, the samplescan be forwarded to analytical system 134 for executing the requestedcoagulation test 319. In a final step, the analyzed biological samplesmay be forwarded to an archive for storing the biological samples forfurther analyses or to a waste unit 321 for disposing the samples.

EDTA samples 305 cannot be centrifuged but rather collectively forwardedby the transport unit 118 to an output buffer. From the output buffer,the EDTA samples can manually, or automatically, be forwarded forexecuting hematological tests 320.

FIG. 4 depicts a pre-analytical automated sample workcell 410 which cancomprise a plurality of processing lab-devices or ‘units’ 401-409. Eachunit can be responsible for executing one or more pre-analyticalprocessing steps on one or more biological samples. Each unit can beconnected to at least one other unit by a conveyor acting as transportunit. The modular architecture of the pre-analytical automated workcellcan be advantageous, because it can be allowed to freely combine theunits according to the specific needs of a particular laboratory. Thesample workcell 410 can be connected to a computer system 414 directly,or via a network. A user can create and assign test orders to one ormore samples which can be processed by the sample workcell via agraphical user interface (GUI) of the computer system 414. The GUI mayin addition provide a user with dynamically updated status informationindicating the processing steps to be executed and/or having alreadybeen executed on a particular sample.

Unit 401 can be a sample input station which can buffer a plurality ofbiological samples loaded into the input station. It can comprise a barcode reader for identifying a biological sample by reading andevaluating a bar code attached to each biological sample. According toone embodiment, the sample input station can further determine the STATstatus of the received samples based on the assigned test orders orbased on the input location of the samples (according to anotherembodiments, the sample input station can comprise different entrypoints for STAT samples and for ROUTINE samples), thereby allowing forthe processing of STAT samples with highest priority. The sample inputstation can further comprise a tube type detector 108 for determiningthe type of a tube, e.g. based on image analysis. The tube type detectormay be a camera in combination with a software module that can executeimage analysis for determining the tube type. According to oneembodiment, the image analysis module may also be part of the IM module.A light source can provide sufficient illumination of the samples.

Unit 402 can comprise a centrifuge that can be programmed based on thetest order, or, if no test order is available, based on the tube type ofthe received biological samples. One or more biological samples can beautomatically loaded to and unloaded from the centrifuge by thetransport unit connecting all units of the automated sample workcell 410with each other. Unit 403 can be a decapping module that can decap tubesof a plurality of tube types such as, for example, Hemogard, Venosafe,Monovette, Kabe and Kima.

Unit 404 can be an aliquoter module that can aliquot biological samplesfor a variety of different analyzer systems. Unit 405 can be a samplesorter module that can group a plurality of samples based on theirassigned test order and/or based on the tube type the samples arecontained in. The sorted sample groups can then be forwarded by thetransport unit to different analytical systems and/or post-analyticalsample workcells. Unit 406 can comprise a bar code labeler that canlabel biological samples with computer-readable and/or human readabledata. Unit 408 can be a recapping module that can cap and/or recap aplurality of different tube types. Unit 409 can be an output samplebuffer that can buffer a plurality of samples which have been processedand which are ready for storage and/or disposal.

FIG. 5 depicts a combination of the pre-analytical automated sampleworkcell 410, two analytical systems 411, 412 and one post-analyticalsample workcell 413. The analytical systems can be multi-modularanalytical systems comprising a series of analytical units A1-A5 and A1,A2, A3, A7, A8, respectively. Each analytical unit A1-A8 can execute aparticular set of analytical tests on one or more biological samples.After having analyzed one or more aliquots of the at least onebiological sample in one or more analytical units A1-A8, the sample maybe forwarded to the post-analytical sample workcell for long-termstorage or disposal. The post-analytical sample workcell 413 cancomprise three post-analytical lab-devices PO1-PO3 which can be, forexample, a cooled storage unit such as a refrigerator or a freezer, awaste unit and the like. The pre-analytical sample workcell 410, theanalytical systems 411, 412 and the post-analytical sample workcell 413can be connected to each other via transport unit 118, e.g. a conveyorbelt.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b depict a computer readable storage medium 115 havingstored therein a plurality of programs P1-P11. Each program can be a setof computer interpretable instructions specifying a particularprocessing step which can be executed physically on one or morebiological samples by one particular lab-device 401, . . . , 409 of anautomated sample workcell 410. The storage medium 115 can furthercomprise a first mapping 603 which maps each program P1, . . . , P11 toone or more test orders O1, . . . , On. The storage medium can furthercomprise a second mapping 604 which maps each program P1, . . . , P11 toone or more tube types T1, . . . , Tm. The characters n and mrespectively represent integers larger than 1.

If a test order O1 104 was received by the automated sample workcell fora particular biological sample as depicted in FIG. 6 a, the IM modulecan select one or more programs P2, P3, P5-P7, P9 based on the receivedtest order O1, thereby specifying the one or more first processingsteps. If the test order O1 104 was not received by the automated sampleworkcell for a particular biological sample, the IM module can selectone or more programs P2, P3, P5, P7 based on the tube type 122 T4 of thebiological sample, thereby specifying the one or more second processingsteps. The latter case is depicted in FIG. 6 b. The IM module cancontrol and monitor the execution of the one or more first or secondprocessing steps by the automated sample workcell.

In the following, two use-case scenarios will be described to elucidatethe differences between state-of-the-art sample workcells andembodiments of the present disclosure. Some of the advantages providedby embodiments of the present disclosure can be the avoidance of delayswhich occur in state-of-the art test-order based sample workcells havingreceived a biological sample to which no test order has been assignedyet.

Two Use-Case Scenarios Scenario I: State-of-the-Art Sample Workcell

-   a) If a biological sample is loaded into a state-of-the-art test    order-based sample workcell and the workcell is operable to receive    a test order for the biological sample, the workcell can determine    one or more processing steps to be executed on the received    biological sample based on the received test order.-   b) If a biological sample is loaded into an automated sample    workcell and the workcell is not able to receive a test order for    the sample, the state-of-the art sample workcell cannot process the    sample because no information on how to prepare the sample for one    or more analytical tests is available. As a consequence, the samples    have to be manually or automatically carried to a buffering station    or a storage unit. The samples can be kept in the buffering station    or storage unit until a corresponding test order is available.    Valuable time can be lost and buffering/storage capacities are    occupied. An operator of the workcell may in addition be burdened    with the task of deciding what to do with samples not having    assigned any test order.

Scenario II: Sample Workcell According to Embodiments of the Invention

-   a) The automated sample workcell receives at least one biological    sample by its sample input station and successfully requests or    otherwise receives a test order for then sample. If a test order for    the biological sample was received, the automated sample workcell    can execute first processing steps on the sample as indicated by the    test order. For instance, if the received biological sample is a    whole blood sample having assigned a test order for executing a    glucose level analysis, the automated sample workcell can transfer    the sample to a centrifuge, can initiate the centrifugation of the    sample in accordance with a centrifugation program appropriate for    the indicated analytical test, and can forward the centrifuged    biological sample to one or more analytical devices as indicated in    the received test order.-   b) If the test order for the biological sample was not received, the    automated sample workcell can execute one or more second processing    steps based on the tube type of the received biological sample.    While state-of-the-art test-order based sample workcells are not    able to process a biological sample if no test order was received or    are merely able to execute some static, predefined processing steps    such as forwarding the samples to a buffering station, some    embodiments can allow for the execution of one or more complex    processing steps on the samples based on the dynamically determined    tube type of the sample. Thereby, automated sample workcells    according to some embodiments can flexibly process a sample    according to its tube type even in case a test order is not    available for a sample at that moment. Using the tube type in order    to determine at least some processing steps can be advantageous,    because information on the tube type is automatically available    whenever a biological sample is loaded into a sample workcells even    if a test order has not yet been received. For example, if a whole    blood sample contained in a serum tube was received by the sample    workcell, the sample workcell is able to execute decapping or    recapping steps and a centrifugation step for preparing serum from    the whole blood. The processing steps having been determined based    on the tube type of a sample are herein also referred to as ‘second    processing steps’. Although some processing steps necessary for    preparing the sample for a particular analytical test may not be    deducible from the tube type alone, determining one or more second    processing steps based on the tube type if a test order is not    available guarantees that necessary processing steps can be executed    immediately after the receipt of the biological sample by the    workcell even if no test order was received.    Pre-Processing Blood Samples for Coagulation Tests

To give a concrete example of an embodiment in practice, the processingof coagulation samples by an automated sample workcell will bedescribed. If a test order for a ‘coagulation test’ was received for theat least one biological sample of a patient, e.g. in response to a firstrequest, one or more first processing steps are executed on the sampleas indicated by the test order. The first processing steps arepre-analytical sample processing steps which prepare the sample for asucceeding coagulation analysis. The first processing steps comprise:programming the centrifuge for executing a centrifugation step of 3000 gfor 10 minutes; executing the centrifugation step on the sample;decapping the sample by the decapping station; and aliquoting the sampleby the aliquotation station. The sample aliquots may then automaticallybe transported to an appropriate analytical system or to an outputbuffer from which the sample can be manually transferred to ananalytical system for executing the coagulation test.

If the test order was not received in response to the first request, theworkcell does not have to suspend processing the sample until the testorder is received as is the case in prior art systems. Rather, a tubetype detection unit within the input station of the workcell candynamically determine the tube type. Then, one or more second processingsteps are determined based on the tube type. If the tube type wasrecognized as coagulation sample tube (type VI for coagulation testsaccording to Table 1), the centrifugation program is specifiedaccordingly and the sample is centrifuged according to the program alsoin the absence of a test order. The second processing steps in thisexample are pre-analytical sample processing steps which prepare thesample for a succeeding coagulation analysis as far as possible based onthe information provided by the tube type. The second processing stepscomprise: programming the centrifuge for executing a centrifugation stepof 3000 g for 10 minutes; executing the centrifugation step on thesample; and the sample is then forwarded to a buffering station. In thebuffering station, the sample is stored until a test order for thecoagulation sample is available which is used to determine and executeoutstanding processing steps, e.g. the aliquotation steps.

If the test order was meanwhile received, e.g. in response to a secondrequest and while executing the centrifugation step, the step oftransporting the sample to the buffering station can be omitted andoutstanding processing steps indicated by the meanwhile received testorder which have not yet been carried out can be executed. Theprocessing steps are, in this example: forwarding the sample to analiquotation station for aliquoting the sample; automaticallytransporting the sample aliquots to an appropriate analytical system orto an output buffer from which the sample can be manually transferred toan analytical system for executing the coagulation test.

Pre-Processing Blood Samples for Clinical Analysis

According to this embodiment, the workcell can automatically pre-processwhole blood samples being contained in serum tubes for a variety ofdifferent clinical tests. The samples need to be centrifuged with acentrifugal force of 2000 g and a centrifugation time of 5 minutes forpreparing serum from the whole blood (the same centrifugation parametersare also used for preparing plasma-samples). If the automated sampleworkcell can receive the test order for the blood sample, e.g. a requestfor executing a test for determining the glucose level, the sampleworkcells executes one or more first processing steps. Those firstprocessing steps comprise centrifuging the sample with a centrifugalforce of 2000 g for 5 minutes and executing additional pre-processingsteps necessary for preparing the sample for determining its glucoseconcentration. If the test order was not received, at least thecentrifugation step and e.g. some decapping and/or recapping steps areautomatically executed based on the sample tube type (serum sample, tubetypes I and II according to Table 1).

Pre-Processing Blood Samples for Hematological Tests

According this embodiment, the workcell can automatically pre-processEDTA-blood samples collected in type III sample tubes. Blood collectedin the sample tubes may be used to examine the blood cells, e.g. theirshape and number per volume unit. For this type of analysis, alsoreferred to as hematological test, a centrifugation could render theexecution of the analysis impossible. A centrifugation of the samplesmust therefore be prohibited. The first or second processing steps to beexecuted on this type of samples therefore may comprise variousdecapping- and/or recapping-steps, but not any centrifugation step.

Pre-Processing STAT Samples

The sample workcell may in addition automatically pre-process STATsamples with a higher priority than routine samples. If a test order wasreceived for the at least one received biological sample, itsSTAT-status, i.e. its categorization as STAT sample or as ROUTINEsample, is determined based on the received test order. In addition, oneor more first processing steps are executed on the sample as indicatedby the test order. If the test order was not received, the STAT statusof the biological sample is determined based on the input location ofthe sample input station having received the at least one biologicalsample. If the sample was categorized as STAT sample, the sample isprocessed with higher priority than the routine samples. This can beadvantageous, because if STAT samples are received by the sampleworkcell, the STAT samples can be identified as STAT samples and can beimmediately processed with highest priority based on the input locationhaving received the samples even if a test order was not yet receivedfor the sample.

Operating a sample workcell according to these embodiment can beadvantageous, because at least some ‘second’ processing steps areexecuted by the automated sample workcell even if no test order wasreceived for the sample by the automated sample workcell.

Depending on the embodiment, the test order for the at least onebiological sample can be received based on a push- or a pull approach.For example, a test order received via the push approach may besubmitted to the automated sample workcell from the LIS or another pieceof laboratory software as soon as the test order is specified for aparticular biological sample. In the following, the expression‘receiving a test order’ encompasses any push- or pull-based approachfor receiving a test order for a biological sample.

According to some pull-approach based embodiments, the automated sampleworkcell tries to receive a test order for the at least one biologicalsample by executing a first request. Depending on the embodiment,executing the first request may comprise submitting an electronicrequest for a test order via a network to the middleware or the LIS,e.g. a Web-service request, a remote procedure call or the like. Thefirst request may also comprise executing a read operation on a computerreadable storage medium in order to determine whether a test order forthe received biological sample has been stored to the storage medium.

The test order can be indicative of one or more first processing steps.The expression ‘being indicative’ implies that the test order itself maycomprise instructions, e.g. computer interpretable instructions forexecuting the one or more first processing steps on the biologicalsample. In addition or alternatively, the test order may comprise one ormore identifiers of one or more analytical tests and/or pre-analyticaland/or post-analytical processing steps to be executed on a sample. Atest order may also be indicative of a complex sample processingworkflow covering pre-analytical, analytical and/or post-analyticalsample processing steps. Detailed computer interpretable instructionsfor triggering one or more lab-devices of the automated sample workcellto execute the physical processing steps on the biological sample can bea part of the test order itself or can be stored elsewhere inassociation with one or more identifiers contained in the test order.

According to some embodiments, the automated sample workcell cancomprise lab-devices for executing one or more processing steps selectedin any combination from the group comprising pre-analytical processingsteps, analytical processing steps and post-analytical processing steps.

According to some embodiments, the automated sample workcell can be apre-analytical sample workcell and each test order specifies at leastone analytical test to be performed on the at least one biologicalsample. The one or more first processing steps thereby may be indicated,for example, by the at least one analytical test.

According to some embodiments, requesting a test order for a particularbiological sample can comprise reading a label of a biological sample inorder to determine a sample identifier being encoded by the label and tosubmit a request for a test order for the sample, wherein the requestcomprises the sample identifier.

According to some embodiments, the automated sample workcell cancomprise one or more lab-devices.

According to some embodiments, selecting one or more second programsfrom the plurality of first programs based on the received test order orbased on a tube type can be implemented by providing a computer readablestorage medium having stored therein a plurality of first programs,whereby one or more first programs can be respectively stored inassociation with one or more test order identifiers. In addition, one ormore first programs can be respectively stored in association with oneor more tube type identifiers. Each first program can thereby comprisecomputer interpretable instructions specifying how to physically conducta processing step on a sample, e.g. how to transport a sample to aparticular centrifuge or how to execute a centrifugation step on asample. This can be advantageous, because this embodiment allows theflexibility to assign one or more processing steps to a particularsample tube identifier and/or to a particular test order by means of amapping. The mapping can be implemented e.g. by means of an associationtable of a relational database, whereby each program is mapped to one ormore identifiers of a test order and/or to one or more identifiers of atube type. As a consequence, an operator of the automated sampleworkcell can change workflow definitions simply by editing a table of arelational database. This embodiment can also allow the flexibility toprogram highly complex workflows which can be executed based on adynamically determined sample type in case a test order was notreceived.

Executing one or more first processing if a test order was received forthe sample may comprise, according to some embodiments, receiving anidentifier of an analytical test or of a single sample processing step,whereby the identifier is contained in the received test order. Then,one or more computer interpretable instructions having been stored inassociation with the received test order identifier are read from acomputer-readable medium. The one or more received computer implementedinstructions specify one or more first processing steps to be executedby the sample workcell on the biological samples.

Executing one or more second processing based on the tube type maycomprise, according to embodiments, determining the sample tube type,evaluating the sample tube type for obtaining a tube type identifier andreading computer interpretable instructions from a data storage medium,whereby the instructions were stored to the storage medium inassociation with one or more tube type identifiers and whereby onlythose instructions are read which have assigned the obtained tube typeidentifier.

According to embodiments, the automated sample workcell can try toreceive a test order for the at least one biological sample by executinga first request. According to some embodiments, the execution of thefirst request can be triggered by the receipt of the at least onebiological sample by the workcell or one of its components, e.g. itssample input station. For example, the sample input station notifies anIM (instrument manager) module that a sample having assigned aparticular sample-ID was received, and the IM module requests in a firstrequest for a test order for the sample.

According to further embodiments, at least one second request can beautomatically executed for receiving the test order. The at least onesecond request can be executed at a moment being selected from the groupcomprising: after a predefined time period after having executed thefirst request such as, for example, a second request may be submitted 5min. after having submitted the first request; after having executed thefirst request and while executing one of the one or more secondprocessing steps such as, for example, the automated sample workcell mayexecute a centrifugation step as part of the second processing stepsbased on the tube type. While executing the centrifugation, theautomated sample workcell may submit one or more second request forreceiving a test order for the centrifuged sample. This can beadvantageous, because not all sample processing steps which arenecessary in order to prepare the biological sample for a particularanalysis according to a test order can be determined as ‘secondprocessing steps’ based on the tube type. In order to determine alsothose ‘test order-specific’ processing steps, it can be beneficial tostart executing the second processing steps immediately and trying inparallel to receive an indication of all outstanding processing steps bysubmitting one or more second requests. After having executed one of theone or more second processing steps, whereby the one or more secondprocessing steps according to some embodiments comprise transporting theat least one biological sample to a buffering station after all othersecond processing steps have been completed. This feature oftransporting the at least one biological sample to a buffering stationafter all other second processing steps have been executed can beadvantageous, because this step guarantees that a sample does not blockthe processing of other samples and is stored under appropriate storingconditions if a test order is still not available after having finishedexecuting the one or more second processing steps. For example, atemperature sensitive sample can be transferred to a cooled bufferingstation, thereby guaranteeing that the sample can still be used for achemical analysis later on as soon as the test order is received by thesample workcell.

According to some embodiments, the one or more second processing stepscan comprise one final step of transferring the at least one biologicalsample to a storage unit after having executed all other secondprocessing steps. According to some of the embodiments, the finaltransportation step is not executed if, while executing one of thesecond processing steps, the test order was received in response to oneof the second requests. This can be advantageous because it avoidsexecuting unnecessary transportation steps (to and from a sample storageunit).

According to embodiments, the one or more second requests are onlysubmitted if no test order was received in response to the firstrequest.

According to some embodiments, the automated sample workcell cancomprise at least one centrifuge. If the test order was received, theexecuted one or more first processing steps can comprise at least onecentrifugation step. The centrifugation step can be executed by the atleast one centrifuge as indicated by the test order. If the test orderwas not received, the executed one or more second processing steps canalso comprise the at least one centrifugation step. In this case, thecentrifugation step can be determined based on the determined tube typeof the sample. This can be advantageous because centrifugation steps cantake a considerable amount of time and are often the time limiting stepof a workflow. Therefore, executing a centrifugation step based on thetube type if a test order is not available can help avoid bottlenecks.In many cases, delays resulting from a delayed assignment of a testorder to a sample can be completely avoided because the centrifugationstep can be started based on the tube type if the test order cannot bereceived at the moment when the sample is received by the sample inputstation of the workcell. As a centrifugation step may take 5-20 min.,there is a good chance for receiving the test order in response to oneof the one or more second requests during or after the execution of thecentrifugation step.

According to further embodiments, the automated sample workcell cancomprise at least one aliquotation station. If the test order wasreceived, the one or more executed first processing steps can compriseat least one aliquotation step to be executed on the at least onebiological sample by the at least one aliquotation station. If the testorder was not received, the one or more executed second processing stepsdo not comprise the at least one aliquotation step. This can beadvantageous because the step of aliquoting a biological sampletypically depends on the analytical test to be executed and cantherefore often not be executed based on information on the tube typealone. Executing the step of aliquoting a sample only if the test orderwas received can be advantageous, as it can ensure that only thoseprocessing steps are executed whose necessity can safely be deduced fromthe tube type.

According to further embodiments, the automated sample workcell cancomprise at least one decapping and/or recapping station. If the testorder was received, the one or more executed first processing steps cancomprise at least one decapping and/or recapping step to be executed onthe at least one biological sample by the at least one decapping and/orrecapping station. If the test order was not received, the one or moreexecuted second processing steps can comprise the at least one decappingand/or recapping step. This can be advantageous because capping,decapping and recapping a sample may be a necessary pre-analyticalprocedure in a variety of different workflow settings. The first as wellas the second processing steps may comprise one or more decapping and/orrecapping steps in the order needed in a particular state within theworkflow.

If the test order was not received and the sample is processed based onthe sample tube, the sequence of workcell lab-devices used for executingone of the one or more second processing steps may differ from thesequence and/or type of workcell lab-devices used for executing the oneor more first processing steps. Some processing steps may require thesample to be capped, others may require it to be decapped. According tosome embodiments, the first processing steps as well as the one or moresecond processing steps can comprise one or more capping and/ordecapping processing steps. The capping and/or decapping processingsteps can be arranged within the first and/or second processing steps asneeded by the workcell lab-devices executing the first/or secondprocessing steps.

According to further embodiments, the one or more second processingsteps can be a subset of the one or more first processing steps. If thetest order was not received at the moment when the sample workcellreceives the one or more biological samples, e.g., if no test order isreceived in response to the first request, the one or more secondprocessing steps can be executed. After having executed the one or moresecond processing steps, further steps can be executed by the automatedsample workcell which can comprise: receiving, after having finishedexecuting the one or more second processing steps, the test order (thetest order may, for example, be received in response to a secondprocessing step); determining one or more outstanding processing steps,the one or more outstanding processing steps comprising all firstprocessing steps not being contained in the one or more secondprocessing steps having been executed already; and executing the one ormore outstanding processing steps by the automated sample workcell afterhaving executed the one or more second processing steps. In other words,after having executed the second processing steps and after havingreceived the test order at a later moment in time, e.g. in response to asecond request, all those processing steps indicated by the test orderare executed which have not yet been executed already as secondprocessing steps based on the tube type. This can be advantageousbecause this can ensure that by executing the one or more outstandingprocessing steps, finally all processing steps can be executed which arenecessary to prepare the sample for a particular analytical testrequested in the test order of the sample.

For instance, the sample workcell may receive a whole blood samplewithin a serum tube and submit a first request for a test order of thetube in response to the receipt of the sample. However, no test order isreceived in response to the first request. The workcell may determinethat the received biological sample is contained in a serum tube and mayexecute one or more second processing steps based on the dynamicallydetermined tube type. The second processing steps can comprise acentrifugation step for preparing serum from the sample. As theinformation that can be deduced from the tube type is not specificenough to allow executing an aliquotation step, the sample workcell isnot able to aliquot the sample for a particular analytical test.Therefore, the workcell may submit one or more second requests and mayforward the sample after having finished the second processing steps toa storage unit if no test order was received in response to the secondrequests. If, however, the test order of the sample was received duringor after the execution of the one or more second processing steps, theone or more outstanding processing steps can be determined automaticallyas an intersection of all the first processing steps indicated by thetest order and all second processing steps having already been executedby the workcell. After having determined one or more outstandingprocessing steps, the one or more outstanding processing steps areexecuted by the sample workcell, thereby guaranteeing that all firstprocessing steps are actually executed on the at least one biologicalsample as they would have been if the test order would have beenreceived right away in response to the first request. According toembodiments, the step of aliquoting the sample for a particularanalytical test can be executed either as one of the one or more firstprocessing steps or as one of the one or more outstanding processingsteps.

According to further embodiments, the at least one second request can berepeatedly and automatically executed. This can be advantageous becausea second request is continuously, e.g. after predefined time intervals,executed during and/or after the workcell executes the one or moresecond processing steps. This can guarantee that the test order isreceived as soon as possible, thereby avoiding that a sample for which atest order can meanwhile be received is unnecessarily transferred to abuffering unit. If no test order was received when all second processingsteps are executed, the sample may be transported to the samplebuffering station. According to some embodiments, the one or more secondrequests can be repeatedly executed even after having transferred thesample to the buffering station. As soon as the test order was receivedin response to a second request, the sample is unloaded from thebuffering station for executing one or more outstanding processing stepson the sample.

According to embodiments, the sample workcell can comprise an instrumentmanger (IM) module. The module can be a hardware-, firmware- or softwaremodule or any combination thereof. The IM module can act as a controlinstance which controls and monitors the processing steps executed bylab-devices of the sample workcell. The IM module can submit the firstand second requests and can receive the test orders in response to anyof the first or second requests. The IM module can receive the tube typehaving been determined by the tube type detector. According toembodiments, the IM module can access a computer-readable storage mediumhaving stored therein instructions which specify the physical processingsteps executed by the workcell lab-devices. According to embodiments,the IM module can be an integral part of the sample workcell. Accordingto other embodiments, the IM module can be a software module being partof the middleware or LIS of a laboratory, the middleware or LIS beingconnected to the workcell via a network, e.g. an intranet.

According to some embodiments, the test order is not received when theone or more samples are loaded into the sample workcell. The automatedsample workcell can receive the test order while the workcell isexecuting the one or more second processing steps on the sample or hasfinished executing the one or more second processing steps. For example,the test order, e.g. in response to one of the second requests, thesample workcells or one of its components, e.g. the IM module, comparesthe second processing steps with the first processing steps indicated bythe meanwhile received test order. If the comparison returns as resultthat one or more of the executed second processing steps are notindicated by the test order, the workcell can automatically detects thesample as a wrongly processed sample. The workcell can submit an alertmessage which is indicative of the wrongly processed sample. In additionor as an alternative to submitting the alert, the sample can betransported to a buffer unit for storing or discarding erroneouslyprocessed biological samples. For example, the IM module of the workcellmay automatically detect a wrongly processed sample and submit an alertmessage via a network to an LIS or other software component of the laband may be displayed on a GUI. These features can be advantageous asthey can detect and sort out samples whose tube type was not recognizedcorrectly and which may therefore have been processed erroneously. Suchsamples may not be usable for an analytical test any longer and sortingthem out helps to guarantee the accuracy of analytical test resultsobtained on samples pre-processed by the sample workcell.

According to further embodiments, the sample workcell can determine thetube type of the at least one biological sample. Executing the one ormore second processing steps can comprise retrieving a centrifugationprogram for the determined tube type and executing a centrifugation stepaccording to a centrifugation program. The centrifugation program couldbe stored e.g. to a computer readable non-volatile storage medium, e.g.an electromagnetic disk, a flash drive, an optical drive or the like,and can be read by the IM module for specifying the centrifugationprogram of at least one centrifuge and for centrifuging the sampleaccording to the centrifugation program. Depending on the embodiment,the computer readable storage medium may be an integral part of theautomated sample workcell, of the centrifuge or of another storagemedium being accessible via the middleware or the IM module. Dependingon the embodiment, the centrifuge can be an integral part, e.g. amodular unit, of the automated sample workcell, or can be an independentlaboratory device connected to the automated sample workcell by anautomated transport unit, i.e. a conveyor and/or a robotic arm.

According to further embodiments, determining the tube type can only beexecuted if the test order was not received. This can be advantageousbecause determining the tube type, e.g. by means of a camera or otherimage capturing devices, can be omitted, thereby saving time.

According to other embodiments, the tube type can be determinedautomatically by a lab-device of the automated sample workcell, e.g. byan image detection device being part of the input station. Depending onthe embodiment, the determination of the tube type can be based on ananalysis of one or more of the following features being selected fromthe group comprising: the color of the tube, the color of the tube cap,the dimensions of the tube (i.e. length and/or diameter and/or shapeproperty), the dimensions of the tube cap (length and/or diameter and/orshape property), or a tube type label being indicative of the tube type,e.g. a 2D or 3D code, e.g. a barcode or a matrix code. A shape propertycan be, for example, depressions or elevations of the surface.

According to further embodiments, a plurality of biological samples canbe received and grouped based on respectively received test orders ortube types: if a test order was received for each biological samplebelonging to the plurality of received biological samples, thebiological samples are grouped according to their respectively receivedtest orders, each sample group sharing the same respectively receivedtest order, before executing the one or more first processing steps. Ifa test order was not received for each biological sample belonging tothe plurality of biological samples, the biological samples of theplurality of biological samples are grouped according to the tube typeof each respective biological sample, the samples of each sample groupbeing contained in tubes of the same respective tube type, beforeexecuting the one or more second processing steps. This can beadvantageous because grouping the samples according to the received testorder or the tube type allows to distribute the sample groups todifferent workcell devices and to process each sample group based on thecollectively shared test order. For example, a centrifugation step maybe executed on a plurality of samples sharing the same test order in onesingle step. Accordingly, if the test order was not received, groupingand processing the samples according to a shared sample type can beadvantageous because it allows executing a particular second processingstep in parallel on a multitude of samples, thereby speeding up thewhole sample processing workflow.

According to embodiments, the execution of the first request can betriggered by the receipt of the at least one biological sample.According to further embodiments, the automated sample workcell can becoupled to a data source, the data source having stored a first and asecond mapping, the first mapping assigning programs to test orders, thesecond mapping assigning programs to tube types.

According to still further embodiments, the automated sample workcellcan further comprises a light source for illuminating the one or moresamples and the tube type detector comprises a digital camera forcapturing at least one image of the one or more samples.

It is noted that terms like “preferably,” “commonly,” and “typically”are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed embodiments orto imply that certain features are critical, essential, or evenimportant to the structure or function of the claimed embodiments.Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative oradditional features that may or may not be utilized in a particularembodiment of the present disclosure.

For the purposes of describing and defining the present disclosure, itis noted that the term “substantially” is utilized herein to representthe inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to anyquantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation.The term “substantially” is also utilized herein to represent the degreeby which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated referencewithout resulting in a change in the basic function of the subjectmatter at issue.

Having described the present disclosure in detail and by reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications andvariations are possible without departing from the scope of thedisclosure defined in the appended claims. More specifically, althoughsome aspects of the present disclosure are identified herein aspreferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that thepresent disclosure is not necessarily limited to these preferred aspectsof the disclosure. Although the principles of the present disclosurehave been described in the context of blood sample analysis, theembodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applicationsof the present disclosure. It is therefore to be understood thatnumerous modification may be made regarding the type of biologicalsample to be processed (urine, saliva, cerebral spinal liquor etc),regarding the processing steps to be executed by a lab-device of theautomated sample workcell and regarding the test orders and tube typesevaluated for determining the first and second processing steps.

TABLE 1 Tube Types Tube Sample Possible analyses (indicated in typeAdded substances type test order) I contains a clot activator serumclinical chemistry on serum Clot activator accelerates clotting. sample(determining glucose/ion/protein level etc.); immunology; routine blooddonor screening; diagnostic testing for infectious diseases II Containsa clot activator and gel serum clinical chemistry on serum Gel densitybetween density of blood sample (determining glucose/ion/protein serumand of the blood cells. Gel level etc.); immunology; routine assists inseparating serum and blood blood donor screening; diagnostic cells aftercentrifugation. Gel prevents testing for infectious diseases substanceexchange between blood cell and serum. III Contains anticoagulant EDTAhematological clinical hematology examinations K2-EDTA does not distortblood cells samples of blood cells; routine blood donor and is thereforethe preferred anti- (whole screenings; coagulans for hematologicalanalyses. blood) IV Contains anticoagulants: Heparin, plasma clinicalchemistry on plasma Lithium, Heparin Sodium and gel sample (determiningglucose/ion/protein Gel density is between density of blood level etc.);immunology; routine plasma and of the blood cells. Gel blood donorscreening; diagnostic assists in separating plasma and blood testing forinfectious diseases; cells after centrifugation. Gel prevents some itemsof hemorrheology substance exchange between blood cell and plasma. VContains thrombin, a rapid clot STAT rapid STAT serum analysis activatorserum sample VI Contains anticoagulants citrate citrate- Coagulationanalyses: adding Citrate binds the calcium of the blood plasma calciumallows blood to clot again; sample. sample determination of e.g. theclotting time; platelet function assays; VII Urine tubes urine Chemicalanalysis on urine sample samples

We claim:
 1. A method for operating an automated sample workcell forprocessing one or more biological samples, wherein the workcellcomprising a sample input station, the method comprising: receiving theone or more biological samples by the sample input station, wherein eachsample is contained in a sample tube and each sample tube is of a tubetype; determining whether a test order was received for the one or morebiological samples; operating the automated sample workcell toautomatically execute one or more first processing steps on at least oneof the biological samples for which a test order was received, whereinthe test order specifies the one or more first processing steps for theat least one of the biological samples for which a test order wasreceived; determining the tube type of a sample tube that contains atleast one of the biological samples for which a test order was notreceived; determining one or more second processing steps for the atleast one of the biological samples for which a test order was notreceived based on the tube type of the sample tube that contains the atleast one of the biological samples for which the test order was notreceived, wherein the tube type specifies the one or more secondprocessing steps for the at least one of the biological samples forwhich a test order was not received; and operating the automated sampleworkcell to automatically execute the one or more second processingsteps on the at least one of the biological samples for which the testorder was not received without delay until the test order is received.2. The method of claim 1, whereby the automated sample workcellcomprises one or more lab-devices, the method further comprising:accessing a plurality of first programs, each first program being a setof computer-interpretable instructions, each program specifying one ormore candidate processing steps which can be performed by one of the oneor more lab-devices on the one or more biological samples, wherein ifthe test order was received, one or more second programs are selectedfrom the plurality of first programs based on the received test order,the one or more second programs specifying the one or more firstprocessing steps and wherein if the test order was not received, the oneor more second programs are selected based on the tube type of thesample tube that contains the at least one of the biological samples forwhich a test order was not received, the one or more second programsspecifying the one or more second processing steps.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein one first request or said first requestand at least one second request for receiving the test order areautomatically executed, the at least one second request being executedat a moment being selected from the group comprising after a predefinedtime period after having executed the first request, after havingexecuted the first request and while executing one of the one or moresecond processing steps, and after having executed one of the one ormore second processing steps, wherein the one or more second processingstep for transporting the at least one of the biological samples forwhich the test order was not received to a buffering station afterhaving finished executing all other second processing steps.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the execution of the first request istriggered by the receipt of the one or more biological samples.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the automated sample workcellcomprises at least one centrifuge, wherein if the test order wasreceived, the executed one or more first processing steps comprise atleast one centrifugation step to be executed by the at least onecentrifuge and if the test order was not received, the executed one ormore second processing steps also comprise the at least onecentrifugation step.
 6. The method of according to claim 1, wherein theautomated sample workcell comprises at least one aliquotation station,wherein if the test order was received, the one or more executed firstprocessing steps comprise at least one aliquotation step to be executedon the at least one of the biological samples for which a test order wasreceived by the at least one aliquotation station, and wherein if thetest order was not received, the one or more executed second processingsteps do not comprise the at least one aliquotation step.
 7. The methodof according to claim 1, wherein the automated sample workcell comprisesat least one decapping and/or recapping station, wherein if the testorder was received, the one or more executed first processing stepscomprise at least one decapping and/or recapping step to be executed onthe at least one of the biological samples for which a test order wasreceived by the at least one decapping and/or recapping station, andwherein if the test order was not received, the one or more executedsecond processing steps comprise the at least one decapping and/orrecapping step.
 8. The method of according to claim 4, wherein the oneor more second processing steps are a subset of the one or more firstprocessing steps, wherein the test order was not received when the oneor more samples are received by the sample workcell, wherein the sampleworkcell has finished executing the one or more second processing steps,and wherein the method further comprises: receiving the test order afterhaving finished executing the one or more second processing steps;determining one or more outstanding processing steps, the one or moreoutstanding processing steps comprising all first processing steps nothaving already been executed as second processing steps; and executingthe one or more outstanding processing steps by the automated sampleworkcell.
 9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the test order wasnot received when the one or more samples are received by the sampleworkcell and wherein the method further comprises: receiving the testorder while the sample workcell is executing the one or more secondprocessing steps or has finished executing the one or more secondprocessing steps; comparing the second processing steps with the firstprocessing steps indicated by the received test order; if the comparisonreturns as result that one or more of the executed second processingsteps are not indicated by the test order, automatically detecting theat least one sample as wrongly processed sample; and submitting an alertmessage being indicative of the wrongly processed sample and/ortransporting the wrongly processed sample to a buffer unit for storingor discarding the sample.
 10. The method of according to claim 4,wherein the at least one second request is repeatedly executed.
 11. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising, determining the tubetype of the at least one of the biological samples for which a testorder was not received, wherein executing the one or more secondprocessing steps comprises retrieving a centrifugation program for thedetermined tube type and executing a centrifugation according to thecentrifugation program.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein theone or more biological samples received by the sample input stationcomprises a plurality of biological samples, wherein if a test order wasreceived for each sample of the plurality, the biological samples of theplurality are grouped according to their respectively received testorders, each sample group sharing the same respectively received testorder, before executing the one or more first processing steps, andwherein if test orders were not received for each of the plurality ofbiological samples, the biological samples of the plurality are groupedaccording to the tube type of each respective biological sample, eachsample group sharing the same respective tube type, before executing theone or more second processing steps.
 13. The method according to claim1, wherein determining the tube type of a sample tube that contains theat least one of the biological samples for which a test order was notreceived comprises automatically detecting the tube type of whenever theone or more biological samples is loaded into the automated sampleworkcell.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining thetube type comprises detecting a tube type label, a cap color, a capdimension, a tube color, a tube dimension, or combinations thereof. 15.The method of claim 1, wherein determining the tube type comprisesanalyzing one or more of the features selected from the group consistingof a color of the tube, a color of the tube cap, a dimension of thetube, a dimension of the tube cap and a tube type label.